[Archived from March 20, 2009]
[by Shiela Steinman Wallace]
With a cast of nearly 50, the CenterStage company brings the biblical stories of Adam and Eve and Noah to life with John Caird and Stephen Schwartz’ Children of Eden.
While we’re all familiar with these stories, this show definitely adds some interesting twists. In fact, the advance billing describes the musical as “loosely based on the book of Genesis,” and that is a good description.
Alex Craig, as Adam, was obsessed with naming everything in Eden while Kelley Brady, as Eve, was bored and curious, constantly asking questions like a small child. Frank Goodloe III, the stand-in lead of the snake was the perfect tempter at the tree of knowledge.
In the Noah story, Japheth chooses a daughter of Cain’s family for his wife and the family must deal with it, knowing that Father (an incarnate representation of God) will not approve. Ah, the joys of parenting!
The singing and dancing that hold this show together are first rate, as always.
The night I was there, the attendance was very light. This high quality deserves better; however, it must be acknowledged that there were several other significant events that night.
Make your plans now to catch Children of Eden. You still have plenty of opportunities: Saturday, March 21, at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, March 22, at 2 and 7 p.m.; Monday, March 23, Thursday, March 26, and Saturday, March 28, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, March 29, at 2 p.m.